Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a solid, if not spectacular, experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The data shows this combination ranks 1575th out of 3714 tested combos, placing it in the upper-middle tier of overall system performance. Benchmark results indicate that the system is capable of hitting 60 FPS at all tested resolutions, but only at certain quality presets. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, compares the CPU and GPU to their nearest rivals, and provides a clear picture of what settings to use for a smooth flight experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F sits in a tight performance band relative to its nearest CPU rivals. The data shows the Ryzen 5 7500F is a nearly identical performer, with an average benchmark score of 24964 against the 8400F's 25005, a delta of just 0.2%. The Intel Core i7-11850H and Intel Core i7-13620H are also extremely close, with scores of 24935 and 24911 respectively, representing deltas of 0.3% and 0.4%. On the other side, the AMD EPYC 9474F posts a slightly higher average score of 25103, a -0.4% delta, meaning it is marginally ahead. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would deliver essentially indistinguishable frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator, as the performance difference is well within the margin of error for benchmark testing.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070's nearest rivals show a similar story of near-parity. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is its closest competitor, with an average score of 17083 compared to the RTX 3070's 17208, a delta of 0.7%. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 and AMD Radeon HD 7970M are further behind, with scores of 17037 and 17019, representing deltas of 1% and 1.1% respectively. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c is the only rival that comes out ahead, scoring 17468, a -1.5% delta. Given these margins, swapping the RTX 3070 for an RX 7600 XT would likely produce nearly identical frame rates, while the older GTX 690 or HD 7970M would also be within a couple of percent of its performance in this title.

CPU and GPU Roles

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the balance between CPU and GPU load shifts noticeably across resolutions. The benchmark data reveals that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate for Ultra settings is 75 FPS, while at 2560x1440 it drops to 61 FPS, and further to 45 FPS at 3840x2160. This scaling pattern—a roughly 20% performance drop from 1080p to 1440p, and another 25% drop from 1440p to 4K—indicates that the RTX 3070 is being pushed harder at higher resolutions, limiting overall throughput.

The CPU's role is more apparent at lower resolutions and lower settings. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system reaches 135 FPS, which is a substantial jump from the 79 FPS seen at High settings. This suggests that at lower graphical loads, the CPU is able to feed frames quickly enough, and the GPU is not the limiting factor. However, the scaling from Low to Medium at 1080p (135 to 105 FPS) and then to High (79 FPS) shows that the GPU's workload becomes increasingly dominant as visual quality rises. At 3840x2160, the gap narrows dramatically: Low settings yield 80 FPS, Medium drops to 63 FPS, and High falls to 47 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K manages only 45 FPS, confirming that the GPU is the hard constraint at this resolution.

The Ryzen 5 8400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is unlikely to be the limiting factor in most scenarios. Its single-thread score of 2943 in Cinebench R23 and multi-thread score of 20851 indicate strong per-core performance, which is crucial for a simulation game that relies heavily on a few main threads. The data suggests that while the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates, the RTX 3070's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth become the ceiling for performance at higher resolutions and settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a detailed look at how this combo performs across all tested configurations.

At 1920x1080, the system is consistently playable. The Low preset delivers an average of 135 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates the CPU is not holding back the GPU. Medium settings average 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 121 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 79 FPS, while Ultra averages 75 FPS. All presets at 1080p comfortably clear the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. Low settings average 109 FPS, Medium averages 85 FPS (with a minimum of 72 and maximum of 98), High averages 64 FPS, and Ultra averages 61 FPS. The Ultra preset is right at the edge of the playable threshold, but it is still technically above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes more dramatically. Low settings average 80 FPS, which is still playable. Medium averages 63 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and maximum of 72—this is the only 4K preset with recorded min/max data, and the minimum dips below the 60 FPS threshold. High settings average 47 FPS, and Ultra averages 45 FPS, both of which are below playable levels. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this combo requires either Low or Medium settings to maintain a playable experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only at Low or Medium settings. The measured data shows Low averages 80 FPS and Medium averages 63 FPS at 3840x2160. High and Ultra settings drop to 47 FPS and 45 FPS respectively, which are below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best quality preset at 1440p for this system?

A: The Ultra preset is the most demanding option that still stays at or above 60 FPS. The measured average at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings is 61 FPS, which just clears the playable threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary factor even at 1080p, but the CPU is sufficient to avoid bottlenecking. The jump from Low to Ultra settings at 1920x1080 only reduces average FPS from 135 to 75, indicating that the GPU workload scales heavily with settings, while the CPU can keep up with the frame demand.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 8400F compare to its closest CPU rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F is within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, Intel Core i7-11850H, and Intel Core i7-13620H in average benchmark scores. The AMD EPYC 9474F is slightly ahead, with a -0.4% delta. These differences are negligible for gaming performance.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest recorded minimum is 53 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. This is the only preset where the minimum dips below 60 FPS, though the average remains at 63 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 a good match for the Ryzen 5 8400F in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate a balanced pairing. At 1080p and 1440p, the combo delivers playable frame rates across all presets. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, but the CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures it does not create a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination ranks 1575th out of 3714 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the 58th percentile of all systems tested, meaning it outperforms more than half of the other combinations. The rank reflects the overall balance of CPU and GPU capabilities, and the measured data confirms that this system is capable of handling the game at a high level, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. While it is not a top-tier setup, the 1575th rank indicates that it will comfortably handle the game's demands for most users, especially those targeting 1080p or 1440p play.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS varies by resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 75 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also clears the threshold, with an average of 61 FPS. This is a tight margin, but it is still technically playable at maximum settings.

At 3840x2160, the best preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 63 FPS. The High preset falls to 47 FPS, so users at 4K will need to sacrifice visual fidelity to maintain smooth performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly answers the question of whether this PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator. At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable, with all presets from Low to Ultra averaging above 60 FPS, including a strong 75 FPS at Ultra settings. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at all presets, with Ultra averaging 61 FPS, which is just above the playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the verdict is more conditional: only Low and Medium settings are playable, with averages of 80 FPS and 63 FPS respectively. High and Ultra settings at 4K are not playable, as they drop to 47 FPS and 45 FPS. Overall, this combo is a strong performer for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and it can handle 4K only if the user is willing to reduce settings to Medium or lower. The data shows that this system is a viable option for Microsoft Flight Simulator, with the primary limitation being the RTX 3070's performance at 4K resolutions.